A driver miraculously survived a terrifying crash into a steep ravine thanks to his dog, which traveled miles on its own to alert authorities.
On June 2, Brandon Garrett was driving with his four dogs on a remote US Forest Service road when his vehicle veered off the road and plunged into a ravine, according to the Baker County Sheriff’s Office.
One of Garrett’s dogs covered nearly four miles to reach the campsite where his family was staying, which alerted them that something was wrong. The family located Garrett’s car the next day but could not reach it due to the difficult terrain and called 911. When rescuers arrived, they found Garrett about 100 yards from the car after hearing his cries for help. He had managed to crawl out of the vehicle following the crash.
US Forest Service employees cleared a path through the dense vegetation with chainsaws, allowing search and rescue teams to establish a complex rope system across the ravine. The teams used a pulley system to transport Garrett in a rescue stretcher to safety, while a raging stream flowed below.
Garrett was airlifted to a regional hospital, and his three other dogs were found alive at the crash site. The police report notes that Garrett had been traveling north on US Forest Service Road 39 when he failed to navigate a curve, causing the vehicle to fall off the embankment. The heroic actions of his dog played a crucial role in his rescue.
